An interetsing analysis by a Patriots writer after hearing a senior official speak at Pats camp. The "rule change" moving the Umpire from behind the defensive line to behind the offensive line is likely to slow down the no huddle attacks that teams like the Patriots and Colts have used so devastatingly over the last decade or so.

This is because the Umpire will be 5 more yards away from the LOS than he used to be, meaning he's going to walk 5 more yards in each direction to spot the ball and get back to his position. While 5 yards isn't that much, when you're talking about those high-flying, tempo-dictating attacks that those teams have used, every second can matter to the harried defense.

Also, not that you care much about the Patriots, of course, but it's worth keeping track of what the competition is doing. Apparently, based on what the reporters are seeing in practice, the Patriots are moving away from the spread-'em-out, wide open, high flying attack that they have featured heavily in the last few years, and spending more time on more traditional sets. The NFL in general moved away from such wide open looks last year, and the Patriots seem to be following that trend. It seems that defenses have done a good job of starting to solve the problems posed by those looks, so offenses are starting to adjust back.

Obviously teams with elite QBs will still lean heavily on passing attacks, but they may have a more traditional look than five wide etc.